Most of Bangladesh is covered by the Bengal Delta, the largest delta on Earth. The country has 700 rivers and 8,046 km (5,000 mi) of inland waterways. Highlands with evergreen forests are found in the northeastern and southeastern regions of the country. Bangladesh has many islands and a coral reef. The second longest unbroken sea beach of the world, Cox's Bazar Beach, is located in the southeast. It is home to the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world. The country's biodiversity includes a vast array of plant and wildlife, including endangered Bengal tigers, the national animal.

During the war, Indian and Pakistani militaries simultaneously clashed on the eastern and western fronts; the war ended after the Eastern Command of the Pakistan military signed the Instrument of Surrender on 16 December 1971 in Dhaka, marking the formation of East Pakistan as the new nation of Bangladesh. Officially, East Pakistan had earlier called for its secession from the unity of Pakistan on 26 March 1971. Approximately 90,000 to 93,000 Pakistani servicemen were taken prisoner by the Indian Army, which included 79,676 to 81,000 uniformed personnel of the Pakistan Armed Forces, including some Bengali soldiers who had remained loyal to Pakistan. The remaining 10,324 to 12,500 prisoners were civilians, either family members of the military personnel or collaborators (razakars). It is estimated that between 300,000 and 3,000,000 civilians were killed in Bangladesh. As a result of the conflict, a further eight to ten million people fled the country to seek refuge in India.

Where in Bangladesh...

Jaflong is a natural tourist spot famous for its collection of rolling stones and colorful tribal (Khasi) life. It is also the location of Khasia Rajbari (king’s palace). Do you know where in Bangladesh is Jaflong?

Selected images

This is a photographic reproduction of an original two-dimensional work of art by Francis Hayman (1708–1776) created in 1762. The artwork is showing Lord Clive meeting with Mir Jafar after the Battle of Plassey (1757). Hayman based much of the painting off of Indian miniatures, as he had never been to India and had no firsthand knowledge of Indian dress. The painting was displayed in Vauxhall soon after completion.

The District of Rangamati is a part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and is one of the most beautiful districts of the country. Its beauty lies in the people, culture, landscape and lifestyle. This picture featuring the skyline of Rangamati has been taken at Tabalchhori at BDR Rangamati.

Photo Credit: Sakib

Chomchom is a traditional Bengali sweet originated from Porabari, Tangail, Bangladesh. It is a very popular dessert in Bangladesh and India. The cuisine comes in a variety of colors, mainly light pink, light yellow, and white. It is coated with coconut or mawa flakes as a garnish. The sweet is oval and brownish.

Asian Pied Starling (Sturnus contra) is one of the 12 species of sturnidae family birds that are resident in Bangladesh. Locally known as Myna (Bengali: ময়না) or Shalik (Bengali: শালিক), these birds build their nests in holes or cavities in trees or buildings, or large globular structures of straw, twigs, etc. in trees.

The District of Rangamati is a part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and is one of the most beautiful districts of the country. Its beauty lies in the people, culture, landscape and lifestyle. The Hanging Bridge at Rangamti district, pictured here, is a famous landmark and tourist attraction of the district.

Photo Credit: Shakhawat Hossen Shafat

Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban is the National Assembly Building of Bangladesh, located in the capital Dhaka. It was created by architect Louis I. Kahn and is one of the largest legislative complexes in the world. It houses all parliamentary activities of Bangladesh.

Pohela Baishakh, is the first day of the Bengali calendar, celebrated in both Bangladesh and West Bengal, and in Bengali communities in Assam and Tripura. The most colourful New Year's Day festival takes place in Dhaka. On this occasion the students and teachers of Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka take out a colourful procession and parade round the campus. This image shows a glimpse of the parade.

Bandarban, one of the remotest districts of Bangladesh, is famous for the beauty of its hilly terrain. The numerous Buddhist temples and bihars in the town, Prantik Lake, Jibannagar and Kyachlong Lake are some more places of interest. Boat ride on the river Sangu is another attraction for tourists. This image shows the skyline of the district from the pouplar Nilachol resort managed by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation.

St. Martin's Island is a small island in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the tip of the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, and forming the southernmost part of Bangladesh. There is a small adjoining island that is separated at high tide, called Chera Dwip. It is about 8 kilometres (5 miles) west of the northwest coast of Myanmar, at the mouth of the Naf River.

In Bangladesh there are many tribal people live in Sylhet, Dinajpur, Cox's Bazar, Mymensingh, Rajshahi etc. But majority of tribal people live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. This picture features a tribal kid with her little sister tied in her back at Farukpara, Bandarban, Bangladesh.

Muslin is a cottonfabric of plain weave made in a wide range of weights from delicate sheers to coarse sheeting. This fabric used to be imported into Europe from India in the 17th century and was later manufactured in Scotland and England. Early muslin was hand woven of uncommonly delicate handspun yarn, especially in the region around Dhaka, Bengal (now Bangladesh). The picture depicts an 18th-century woman in Dhaka clad in fine Bengali muslin.

The Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque on Lalbagh road is situated less than half a kilometre west of the Lalbagh Fort, in an area called Atish Khana in old Dhaka. Two Persian inscriptions, one over the central archway and the other over the central Mihrab, speak of its construction during 1704–05 AD.

Born in a poor Muslim family, Nazrul received religious education and worked as a muezzin at a local mosque. He learned of poetry, drama, and literature while working with theatrical groups. After serving in the British Indian Army, Nazrul established himself as a journalist in Kolkata (then Calcutta). He assailed the British Raj in India and preached revolution through his poetic works, such as "Bidrohi" ("The Rebel") and "Bhangar Gaan" ("The Song of Destruction"), as well as his publication "Dhumketu" ("The Comet"). His impassioned activism in the Indian independence movement often led to his imprisonment by British authorities. While in prison, Nazrul wrote the "Rajbandir Jabanbandi" ("Deposition of a Political Prisoner") and condemned Islamic fundamentalism, orthodox traditions and bigotry in society. Exploring the life and conditions of the downtrodden masses of India, Nazrul agitated fiercely for their emancipation.

Nazrul's writings explore themes such as love, freedom, and revolution; he opposed all bigotry, including religious and gender. Throughout his career, Nazrul wrote short stories, novels, and essays but is best-known for his poems, in which he pioneered new forms such as Bengali ghazals. Nazrul wrote and composed music for his nearly 3,000 songs, collectively known as Nazrul geeti (Nazrul songs), which are widely popular today. At the age of 43 (in 1942) he began suffering from an unknown disease, losing his voice and memory. What was later diagnosed as Pick's Disease, caused Nazrul's health to decline steadily and forced him to live in isolation for many years. Invited by the Government of Bangladesh, Nazrul and his family moved to Dhaka in 1972, where he died four years later. (more...)